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REFERENCE

personal

adj. · n.
US //ˈpɝsɪnəɫ// UK //pˈɜːsənəl// per·son·al
  1. 1 belonging to one person (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    belonging to or intended for one particular person rather than anyone else.

    pertaining to a specific individual; relating to or affecting a single person rather than a group.

    Example

    Please keep your personal belongings with you at all times on the train.

    Example

    The CEO insisted on giving the project his personal attention, despite having a capable team of managers to handle the daily operations.
  2. 2 private or sensitive (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    relating to your private life, feelings, or secrets that you do not want to share with everyone.

    concerning an individual's private life, relationships, or emotions; often implies a need for discretion or privacy.

    Example

    I don't like to answer personal questions about my family during job interviews.

    Example

    The biographer struggled to balance the subject's professional achievements with the more sensitive personal details revealed in her private journals.
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  1. 3 done in person (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    done by you yourself, rather than by someone else for you.

    carried out by the individual concerned without the use of an intermediary or representative.

    Example

    The famous author made a personal appearance at the local bookstore.

    Example

    The ambassador delivered a personal message from the president, emphasizing the importance of direct diplomatic engagement between the two nations.
  2. 4 an offensive remark (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    aimed at a person's character or appearance in an unkind or rude way.

    referring to an individual's character or conduct in a way that is intended to be offensive or insulting.

    Example

    There is no need to get personal just because we disagree about the movie.

    Example

    The debate turned ugly when one candidate began making personal attacks instead of addressing the policy issues at hand.
  3. 5 grammar (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Science

    relating to the different 'persons' in grammar, like 'I', 'you', or 'he'.

    relating to the grammatical category of person, distinguishing between the speaker, the person addressed, and others.

    Example

    In English, 'we' is a first-person plural personal pronoun.

    Example

    The linguist noted that certain languages omit personal pronouns when the subject is clearly indicated by the verb ending.

    Usage

    Commonly used in the phrase 'personal pronoun'.
  4. 6 dating advertisements (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

    short advertisements in a newspaper or online where people look for partners or friends.

    classified advertisements, typically in the plural, placed by individuals seeking romantic or social connections.

    Example

    He decided to look through the personals to see if anyone shared his hobbies.

    Example

    Before the rise of dating apps, the personals section of the local Sunday paper was a primary way for singles to meet.

    Usage

    Almost always used in the plural form 'personals'.
    • classifieds
    • dating ads
Origin

From Middle English personal, personele, from Anglo-Norman personel, personal, personell, Old French personal, personel, from Late Latin persōnālis (“of a person, personly”), equivalent to person + -al. Doublet of personnel.

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Idioms1 entry

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